As Central Illinois braces for what could be the first major snowfall of 2025, Peoria’s public works department is hard at work.
Director Nick McMillion says getting major streets and hills throughout the city coated in a saltwater solution brine is a priority for making sure the initial layers of ice and snow are easier to remove. Later on, the trucks will switch to calcium chloride, a hotter brine.
McMillion said this is particularly important because extremely cold temperatures are expected to follow the snow early next week.
“Once those extremely dangerous temperatures set in, it just makes it that much harder to remove snow from any pavement that wasn’t treated,” he said.
McMillion said models predict anywhere from 2 to 8 inches of snow could hit Peoria by Monday. Though plans are flexible, he’s currently preparing for somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 to 6 inches, with 12-hour, around-the -clock plow shifts starting Sunday morning. Plows will enter residential neighborhoods after at least 2 inches of snowfall, likely Monday morning.
“We’re going through all of our equipment, making sure it’s in good operating order and that we are ready to go,” said McMillion. “We’re loading up the trucks with salt. We’re kind of regrouping from [Thursday’s] snowfall that we had.”
McMillion said the approach to clearing snow also depends on what kind of snow ends up falling. Heavy, wet snow demands extra focus on plowing and salting main roads, while loose, powdery snow requires extra attention to northern and western portions of the city that are prone to high winds and drifting.
“We’re fortunate with this storm…that it’s coming on a Sunday. That is, Sundays are a day that are less traveled in general,” said McMillion. “As a reminder, always, if you do not have to go out and be about in the snow as snow is falling, you know, please stay home.”
If you do have to travel in the snow, McMillion advises leaving plenty of space between your vehicle, other vehicles and especially plows.
“You’re looking at a 10-ton vehicle, fully loaded and in conditions such as snow and ice,” said McMillion. “I mean, these trucks, even though they do weigh a lot, driving these trucks can be just as hazardous as any other vehicle on the roadway.”
McMillion said to slow down, use caution and carry a winter emergency kit.
